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After a courageous battle with prostate cancer, Norm Thomas passed away peacefully on May 18, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife Eleanor, children Brian (Sandi), Brent (Berni), and Bruce (Andrea), grandchildren, Chris (Jill), Katie (Tim), Keith (Annika), Mathew, and David, and great grand-children, Will and Hadley. He also leaves behind his sisters, Shirley and Lynn, brother Jack, and many nieces and nephews.

Norm was born in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, and worked there on the family farm. After going to a single-room school house (West Prospect), he attended Portage Collegiate high school, and later graduated from the University of Manitoba in Electrical Engineering in 1949. He met his beloved wife, Eleanor, in Winnipeg, where they were married in 1955. His 36-year career at TCA/Air Canada spanned the infancy of air travel to the jet age, and he was well known and respected by his peers in the field. After retirement in 1991, he generously devoted time to helping friends and family. We will miss his outgoing personality, citizenship, optimism, forthright nature, great sense of humor, creative engineering instincts, and ability to care for friends and strangers alike. Also an active member of the Air Canada Pionairs.

A celebration of Norm’s life will be held at noon on Monday, June 4th at the Rideau Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home, 4275 boul des Sources, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/rideau, with reception to follow. Visitations with the family will be held at 2-5pm and 7-9pm on Sunday, June 3rd, and 11am-12pm on June 4th. A private burial ceremony will be held later at the family plot in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba.